Compare towns
Halifax vs Hardwick vs Guilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Guilford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Halifax | Hardwick | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
2,684Highest |
2,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
46.7±5.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Guilford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guilford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$75,243±$6kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Guilford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$312,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,283±$273Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Guilford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 60% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,827Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±19.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Quabbin | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.